London’s newest Medieval music group set for launch concert
New Medieval music group Green Dragon Guild of London, founded by Australian countertenor David Yardley, will present its launch concert in Central London on 17 April.
Despite its unique and evocative sound world, medieval music is an often-under-represented part of Early Music performance. Named after the ancient alley adjacent to Southwark Cathedral, Green Dragon Court, the group will focus on surviving music from the 11th to the 15th centuries – from troubadours to contemplative chant to lively dances and the primal sound of early polyphony.
With decades of scholarship and historically-informed performance practice between its founding members, Juliette Primrose (vielles), Dr Leah Stuttard (medieval harps), brothers Richard de Winter (bass, narration) and David de Winter (tenor) and David himself, the ensemble will also explore contemporary composition written on medieval-informed foundations alongside the timeless surviving works of the period, musically exploring the gamut of medieval history, historical fiction and fantasy.
David explains his inspiration to create the new ensemble: ‘All of us bring different expertise in historically-informed performance of medieval music and saw the chance to do something new and special together as Green Dragon Guild. We bring together voices and instruments – enabling a wide array of sounds to evoke vibrant and diverse lives of medieval people and their fantasy descendants – from refined courtly songs to rowdy taverns to otherworldly music of spiritual reflection.’
Their launch concert, ‘Of Angels & Avatars’, celebrates the great diversity of the Middle Ages. The programme includes one of the oldest-known troubadour songs, spirited polyphony from the 13th-century Codex Las Huelgas, 13th- and 14th-century dances, works from the medieval Play of Daniel, and a new composition using the surviving text of a ‘lost’ poem by Richard the Lionheart.
David comments, ‘I can’t wait to give the premiere of the medieval-informed/inspired music that I’ve composed, to allow these fascinating surviving words, steeped in the politics and personalities of the end of the 12th century, to sing again after over 800 years of silence.’
Find full details and book tickets for Green Dragon Guild’s 17 April launch concert ‘Of Angels & Avatars’ at St Sepulchre-without-Newgate, London, on Continuo Connect.